Steering mechanism for motor-vehicles.



E. IVI. BARNES. STEERING MECHANISM FOB'l MOTOR VEHICLES.

V- Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

ritira earn rennrorrici i nnwiiiin iii. narines, lor niisriives, MICHIGAN, essreivon, BY ivrnsivn Assieivivinn'rs, Y,

v'ro Annan Jonivsoiv, or Hesriiies, Mioriieeiv.

s'rnnrviive rincrieivisia non' Vif'roiiorz.-rvnnionns.

iejaeie.

application sieri october' 19, 1911i. serial nmsemee.

To all wtomz' may concern.'

Bey it known that i, vEDWARD M. BARNES, acitizenof the United States, residingnt Hastings, `Michigan, have invented certain new'andy useful improvements in Steering Mechanisms for Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is a speciiication..

This invention relates to improvements in steering mechanisms for motorvvehicles.

In motor cars, particularly those having steering mechanisms other than the Vworm types, .constant attention is required on the part :of the driver to keep the car in the straightaway path, that is, as soon as the steering wheel vis released there is a ,tendency for the vehicle wheels .to swing one way or another and vshocks and strains occasioned by the striking of obstacles by the .vehicle wheels are communicated to the steering wheel.

VThemain objects of ,my yinvention are:

First, ito provide an improved attachment, for certain types of .motor vehicle steering Agears ,now ,inIV use, which-,yieldingly holds the steering wheels ofthe vvehicle in a straightawayy course and tends itoreturn them itoxa straightaway 4,position when diverted therefrom.

Second, to providel an improved ,attach-V ment for steering gears having theseadvantages, whichl is quickly applied .and does not disfigure ,or materially changethe appearance of Ithe .veliiclei.

Third, to -provide .an improved steering` gear 4mechanism -`which ltends to yhold .the steering wheels in a straightaway course and to return them to such course whendiverted therefrom, and which is Vsimple and durablefin structure.

VFurther objects, and objects relating to structural details, `will definitely appear from Athe detailed vdescription .to follow.

:Iaccomplish the objects of myzinvention bythe devices and meansdescribed in the following specification. l'.llherinvention .is clearly dened and pointed .out lin thek claims. Y v

' A structure .which isa preferred embodimentofiny inventionvis clearly illustrated in the vaccompanyingv drawing forming a. part ofy this. specification, ,in which Figure Lisa detailpla-n .view ofa strue-A turelembodying the featuresof myrinvention0nly -suehfparts offamotor vehicle being 'illustrated as f are required .to -illustrate Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. i6, l

the application of my invention lin a practical embodiment.

Fig. Il is an enlarged sectional view on Y a line correspondingl to line 2 2 of Fig. I. f

Fig. ill an enlarged sectional View on 4a vline corresponding .to line 3 3 of Fig. II.

Fig. lV is a rear view of the device "iemoved vfromithe aXle.

' In the drawing similar reference .charac" ters referto. similar parts throughout .theseveral views and the sectional views are taken 'looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.`

Referring to the drawing,'l representsthe front axle, 2 .the steering spindles and 3 thel steering wheels of va `motor vehicle: Y Thespindles 2 are .provided'.Withthe` usual arms e connected by the spindle `connecting rod 5.` The connecting rod is connected to .thefsteering gear proper by the link 6.-

On the axle l I mount a'bracket. 7 'by means ,ofthe clips 8, the clips embracing the axle .and being drawn up by means of the nutsV 9. The bracket is provided `with a pair of pivot ears 10.y Betweenztheseears theibraclret has transverse slots 1-1. IA rocking member or post 12 is .mounted Yonlthe brackettoV rock thereon, the `post ybeing provided with abase 13 having :flange-like lugs` lllengagin'gxthe slotsfl'l. This lprevents" lateral slipping of'. the post lon theabracket asfthe post .is rocked. 1 Y I A coiled spring `15. vis arranged on the post to rest on its base. Acup-lilre springy holder lvis sleeved uponthe post and provided with ears 17 1niounted .upon the ears@ 10 of the vhr'aclzetloy the pivots 11,8., The spring is .normally under stress and normally holds the .post or/rocking inember'in its central position, as shown in `the draw-V ings. When theipost'is rocked jon Aits base, the springis compressed still further. @'IheV post is [connected to the connecting rod :5VV by means of .the .clip 19` and the link,20. Thev clip :is ,adjustably secured to the rod bymeansV ofthe set screw,2l.` j f In applying or attaching theqdevicexthe bracket f7 is secured ,.to the aXleina central Y position on the side ofthe connectingirod 5; 'The clip 19yis then arranged `on'tlhe steering spinde connecting rodxand. adjusted thereonitosuch position as permits the post l2uto stand in its `central position, andthe clip secured gto4 the rod in, such position.`

Y position.

In the event of striking an obstacle the shock is mainly sustained by the spring so that the driver is relieved therefrom and the steering Wheel is also relieved of a large amount of the vibration commonly present,

jparticul arly in steering gears other than the worm types.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in the form in which I have embodiedrthe same for use on Ford motor cars, but the same may be readily adapted for other types or makes of cars. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe the various modifications which might be desirable to adapt the same to other makes of cars as they are mainly `a matter of proportion of the parts and it is believed that the structure illustrated will enable those skilled in the art to which my invention relates to embody or adapt the same as conditions may require.

, Having thus described my invention, what.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a steering device Jtor automobiles, an axle, two spindles pivoted thereto and provided each with a crank, a rod connecting said cranks and adapted to be moved longitudinally by manually operated steering mechanism, a lever support secured to the axle,` a lever connected to and movable with said rod and having two ulcra on said lever support, the lever being supported upon both fulcra when the lever and rod are in the straight ahead position and adapted when oscillatcd to rest alternately upon one and then the other of said fulcra, andyielding means for normally forcing the lever to the straight ahead position.

2. In a steering device 'for automobiles, an axle, two spindlespivoted thereto and provided each with acrank, a rod connecting said cranks and adapted to be moved longi tudinally by manually operated steering mechanism, a lever support secured to said axle, a lever connected to and movable with said rod and having two fulcra on said lever support, the lever being supported upon both fulcra when the lever and rod are in the straight ahead position, and when oscillated resting alternately upon one kand then the other of said fulcra, and spring means for normally forcing the lever to the straight ahead position.

3. In a steering device for automobiles, a lever support having means Jfor attachment to an automobile axle, a lever having l yielding. means support, the lever being supported on bothi'ulcra when the lever is in the straight ahead position and adapted to rest, when oscillated, upon saifd fulcra alternately, and

'or movement of the lever in either direction.

4:. In a steering device for automobiles, a lever support having twol seatsv and provided with means for attachment to an au tomobile axle, a lever having two arms which respectively rest in said seats when the lever is in the straight-ahead position and adapt-- ed when oscillated from said .position to swing alternately on said seats, means Afor attachingl said lever to the steering rodof the automobile, and yielding means for normally forcing said lever to the` straight-I ahead position. v

5. In la steering device for automobiles, a lever support attached to an automobile chassis andl horizontally spaced from the automobile steering knuckle connecting rod, a lever connected to the steering knuckle connecting rod and movable therewith, and having two fulcra on said lever support, the lever being supported on bothl fulcra when the lever and rod are in straight ahead position and when oscillated from side to side pivoting alternately upon said ulcra, and spring means resisting movement of the lever in either direction.

6. In a structure of the yclass described, the combination with the axle, of a steering means including a steering spindle connecting rod, a bracket provided with pivot ears and having spaced transverse slots between the ears mounted on said axle on the side of said connecting rod, a post having a base mounted on said bracket to rock thereon and provided withlugs vengagingsaid slots in said base, a coiled spring disposed on saidy normally resisting and a link connecting said clip to said post.

Y 7. In a structure of the class described, the combination with the axle, of a steering means including a steering spindle connecting rod, a bracket having spaced transverse slots mounted on said axle on the side of said connectingrod, a post having a base mounted on said bracket tofrock thereon and provided with lugs engaging said slots in said base, a coiled spring disposed on said post to seat on its said base, a spring holder sleeved upon said post and pivotally mounted on said bracket, a clip adjustably mounted on said connecting rod, and a link connecting said .clip to said post.

- 8. In a structure of the class described, the combination with the axle, of a steering means including a steering spindle con` necting rod, a bracket provided with pivot ears and having spaced transverse slots between the ears mounted on said axle on the side of said connecting rod, a post having a base mounted on said bracket to rock thereon and provided with lugs engaging said slots in said base, a coiled spring disposed on said post to seat on its said base, a cap-like spring holder sleeved upon said post and provided with ears pivoted on said bracket earo and connections between said post and said connecting rod.

9. In a structure of the class described, the combination with the axle, of a steering means including a steering spindle connecting rod, a bracket having spaced transverse slots mounted on said axle on the side of said connecting rod, a post having a base mounted on said bracket to rock thereon and provided with lugs engaging said slots in said base, a coiled spring disposed on said post to seat on its said base, and a spring holder sleeved upon said post and pivotally mounted on said bracket.

10. In a structure of the class described, the combination with the axle, of a steering means including a steering spindle connecting rod, a bracket mounted on said axle on the side of said connecting rod, a post having a base mounted on said bracket to rock thereon, a coiled spring disposed on said post to seat on its said base, a spring holder sleeved upon said post and pivoted on said bracket7 and a link connecting said post to said connecting rod.

l1. In a structure of the class described, the combination with the axle, of a Steering means including a steering spindle connecting rod, a bracket mounted on said axle, a member mounted on said bracket for rocking movement, a spring mounted on said rocking member-to act thereon, a spring holder slidably engaging said rocking member and pivotally mounted on said bracket whereby the spring tends to normally return said rocking member to a central position, and a link connecting said rocking member to said connecting rod.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD M. BARNES. [L 8.]

Witnesses:

HARRY G. HAYES, F. C. SHERMAN.

@epics of this patent may be obtained for ve eents'each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

